Optical switch

An optical switch comprising:

• a housing,
• a fixed optical-fiber holder for holding inside said housing at least one optical fiber end used for either of input or output,
• a movable optical-fiber holder for holding inside said housing at least one optical fiber end used for the other of input or output, which faces said fixed optical-fiber holder and is movable with respect to said fixed optical-fiber holder,
• a driver for moving said movable optical-fiber holder with respect to said fixed optical-fiber holder in such a manner that said input optical fiber end is caused to make a relative movement from or to a position where said input optical fiber end faces said output optical fiber end,
• a refractive index matching material packed inside said housing, which lies at least between said output optical fiber end and said input optical fiber end,
• a heater for heating said refractive index matching material in said housing, and
• a PTC resistive element connected in series to said heater inside said housing.

An optical switch comprising:

• a housing,
• a fixed optical-fiber holder for holding inside said housing at least one optical fiber end used for either of input or output,
• a movable optical-fiber holder for holding inside said housing at least one optical fiber end used for the other of input or output, which faces said fixed optical-fiber holder and is movable with respect to said fixed optical-fiber holder,
• a driver for moving said movable optical-fiber holder with respect to said fixed optical-fiber holder in such a manner that said input optical fiber end is caused to make a relative movement from or to a position where said input optical fiber end faces said output optical fiber end,
• a refractive index matching material packed inside said housing, which lies at least between said output optical fiber end and said input optical fiber end,
• a heater for heating said refractive index matching material in said housing, and
• a bimetal switch connected in series to said heater inside said housing.

An optical switch comprising:

• a housing at least part of which is made of a self-temperature controlled ceramic heater,
• a fixed optical-fiber holder for holding inside said housing at least one optical fiber end used for either of input or output,
• a movable optical-fiber holder for holding inside said housing at least one optical fiber end used for the other of input or output, which faces said fixed optical-fiber holder and is movable with respect to said fixed optical-fiber holder,
• a driver for moving said movable optical-fiber holder with respect to said fixed optical-fiber holder in such a manner that said input optical fiber end is caused to make a relative movement from or to a position where said input optical fiber end faces said output optical fiber end,
• a refractive index matching material packed inside said housing, which lies at least between said output optical fiber end and said input optical fiber end, and
• current-carrying lead wires connected to said ceramic heater of said housing.